BITE user comments - pdub
Comments by pdub
The Hampshire Bowman, Dundridge
Bit of a nightmare to find, but well worth. Not so much a village pub as a pub in the middle of nowhere!
I first visited this pub in March 2012 as part of a trip to the Bowmans Brewery. This pub was selected for the buffet and beers after. I was expecting a few limp sandwiches and a few crisps. The spread was impressive. Lovely hot top quality butchers sausages and bacon sandwiches with plenty of freshly fried chips. There were about 15 of us and they provided enough to feed an army!
I revisited this pub in Feb 2015 for a meal and drinks. The food isn't ridiculously priced and good quality. They had 4 ales on, all dispensed directly from the keg. The 'Swift One' was in excellent condition.
The pub was really busy with diners, obviously not a pub that is feeling the pinch and people travel far and wide to enjoy it. Definitely one you have to book in advance for.
14 Feb 2015 12:03
Visited 7th Feb 2015 11.30am
Popped in for a quick half. Ale wise they had Greene King IPA, Old Speckled Hen and Robinsons Trooper on tap.
As I'm not a fan of GK IPA and OSH I settled for a half of the Trooper. £1.75 a half, the bar staff made good effort to dispense a proper measurement.
The beer was in average condition, very slight vinegary tone, think the beer was just going past best. Too cold as well.
I noticed no less than 4 gaming machines and a duke box. Pub is probably lively of a evening. More for your lager drinking youngster.
8 Feb 2015 21:07
An excellent high street pub which seems to get the balance of food/beer about right.
Ales on offer were London Pride, Banks Bitter, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Hogs Back RIP, Doom Bar and Jennings Cumberland. All beers were well kept, dispensed and really reasonable for a Guildford pub. The Banks was �2.55 a pint - prices from at least 6 years ago. No pint was over �3.
The barman was extremely knowledgable on the subject of ale and was telling me he's hoping to get another ale on, maybe from the Surrey Hills range. They support both local and national brewers.
I'm absolutely staggered there more than one complaint on here about the price of beer. Yes Spoons is cheaper if you can stomach badly kept, dispensed short date beer.
Easily the best ale pub in Guildford. The menu looked varied and reasonable but as I didnt dine I cant comment. Would make an excellent stop on a shopping trip!
Worth a visit.
5 Nov 2011 17:21
Stopped off in here with a mate as part of a cycle ride/pub crawl. We both had a pint of HSB. Now I've been drinking HSB for around 20 years and this was the best served and kept pint of it I've ever tasted. Will definitely be back!
5 Jun 2011 12:57
Stopped off for a quick pint with a mate enroute as we were out cycling. We both ordered a pint of Doom Bar. It wasnt presented well, very murky and didn taste very nice either. Now I'm the type who will struggle through a bad pint rather than complain (more fool me) but both of us left half of and moved on.
I'm hoping this isnt always the case as pubs have bad days. Most of the reviews on here are favourable so I would go back just to see if it was a one-off.
5 Jun 2011 12:54
breifly stopped in for a pint. The Courage Directors was was kept.
7 May 2011 10:17
The Greyhound, Cocking Causeway
loads of charachter, proper olde worlde pub inside and out. Lots of garden space adorned with flowers.
Had a well kept pint of Skinners 'Betty Stogs'
7 May 2011 10:14
Popped in for a quick pint as I was out on the mountain bike and happened to be passing.
Seems more of a restaurant, as my eyes scanned left and right across the bat - not a hand pump in site. Asking what beer they had, the landlady mentioned the had a Hogsback TEA from the cask. Not being big on beer the TEA wasnt in great conditon. Totally lifeless without a hint of conditoning.
Having said that, the landlady was very accomodating, the interior was neat and tidy and I should imagine its great if you want a nice meal with a glass of wine.
7 May 2011 10:12
Getting a really good reputation as a top class eatery and decent pub. I can vouch that both is true!
Took a ride over on a lovely Sunday afternoon. They had Alton Pride, Ringwood 49er and Doom Bar on tap. Tried the Pride and 49er - both in excellent condition; the Pride was the best I've had.
Plenty of charachter and a really good kids play area (fenced in, big trampoline, wooden play house. Loads of space - enough to kick a ball round in!
Lots of people enjoying the sunshine (some were even sunbathing!) Plenty of outside seating. Can also imagine this pub being really cosy in the winter as its a 'proper' pub.
Shame I'm about 4 miles away so can make it my local.
12 Apr 2011 19:30
Reading through the other reviews I'd have to disagree with DCDevil, but then again anyone who'd prefer a pint of London Pride at the Slug n Lettuce is possibly not qualified to cast opinion!
I'd heard good things about this pub regarding its choice and condition of ales and wasnt dissapointed. From memory (it was a few weeks ago) they had Ringwood 49er, Arundel Sussex Gold, Hopback Crop Circle, Downton Mad Hare, Courage best and 3 or 4 other along with 4 ciders. We tried all bar one of the ales on offer and wasnt dissapointed with any of them
The beer was obviously hand pulled in the cellar and served in optimum condition. All 3 of us even enjoyed the true test - serving a decent pint of Courage Best!
Its a refreshing change to sit in a pub that cares about its ales, is dog friendly and not pretending to be anything other than a decent boozer.
1 Apr 2010 10:49
One of the best beer pubs in and around Petersfield. Situated on the corner of the market its what I'd call a proper pub.
Had a swift two pints of HSB and Butcombe Bitter which were very well kept. Definitely one I'd re-visit.
26 Aug 2009 09:15
Delightful country pub with decent sized beer garden and well above average menu and food for the size of the place. Nice homely roaring log fires in both bars for colder days.
Well kept beers, Ringwood 49er and Hogsback TEA with Skinners Betty Stoggs as the guest.
25 Aug 2009 20:36
The Blue Bell Inn, Dockenfield
I've lived around here all my life and didnt realise this little gem was right on my doorstep! First went their for my surprise 40th.
Its a lovely country pub with plenty of charachter and suitable for old and young alike. We had a great meal in a lovely little snug away from other customers.
A decent selection of ales including a house bitter (not sure what it was as I'm sure they dont brew their own!)
Food is fairly pricey but pretty much what you'd expect from a decent free house out in the middle of nowhere.
The landlady is really welcoming and genuinely wants to spend time chatting to you.
I've been back since then and found it just as good. Not a bad little find - give it a go!
25 Aug 2009 16:44
This pub does what it says on the tin. Its a Greene King pub offering food and drink at a family level. This means a simple menu and uninspiring beer (eg Greene King IPA - couldnt be any more different than a true IPA, and Abbott Ale, a good demonstration how a large brewery can ruin a decent recipe once it has its hands on it)
Its low level food aimed at people with 'simpler tastes' Good value for money and average quality.
The pub has a good patio area, ideal for the summer but did find the wasps quite invasive. Good pub to watch the football in as they have big screens inside and out. This pub will be my choice for the World Cup 2010.
I am a bit biased when it comes to the Anchor as it was my regular about 6 years ago when I didnt mind drinking Fosters and I'm always made welcome when I return despite hardly ever going there these days.
Definitely worth a visit if you're looking for simple pub grub and don't want to spend a fortune. Its a large enough establishment to keep away from the swearing locals watching the football and has lots of space outside for the kids to run around.
25 Aug 2009 16:40
Queens Head, Farnham
Classic looking town centre pub. Did smell a bit like the drains had a problem when I made my visit - first time I've been here so not sure if there's a temporary problem?
Décor is very much a nod in the direction of their reputation as a live music pub with promotional gig posters plastered all over the walls and ceiling. A few guitars are mounted on the wall for good measure!
I got in there shortly before 11am on a Saturday and was pleased to see it was fairly busy with a mix of coffee drinking shoppers and a few people drinking beer.
Typical Fullers range of ales, London Pride, HSB, Front Row and an Adnams offering, an IPA which I assumed was a guest. I settled for the IPA; quite pricey at £1.95 a half but fairly typical for a town centre pub.
Very nice pint. I noticed on the way in the pub has Cask Marque status. This was more than reflected in the ale I was enjoying.
Looks like it could be a lively venue of an evening with their support of live music. One of Farnhams better hostelries.
28 Feb 2015 14:06